1970s mini Virgo Pentagonal Pendant

Name: 1970s mini Virgo Pentagonal Pendant
Brand: AUric Vintage
SKU: V26-021
Price: 55.00 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

€55,00

1970s French Virgo zodiac pendant in 800 silver. This pentagonal pendant features the zodiac symbol alongside a intaglio style rendered female figure, kneeling bearing an apple and a sheaf of grain. Alongside her the inscription ’VIERGE 23.8-22.9’. Suspended from an oval bail, the piece is marked 800 silver and bears the maker’s mark and signature of French medallist Jean Balme.

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Looking through the LOUPE

MATERIALS

Silver

AGE

c.1970

SIZE

2.1cm L x 1.8cm W

WEIGHT

2.07 g

MARKS

Marked 800, Jean Balme maker's mark

Self proclaimed perfectionists with an eye for detail, Virgos are always refining and always improving. Logical, analytical and quietly observant, they notice what everyone else misses and fix it before you even realise it was broken, their care revealed through thoughtful acts of service.

Zodiac signs are twelve symbolic slices of the sky, each tied to a season, a constellation, and the steady rhythm of the sun’s journey through the year. Rooted in the star-mapping traditions of ancient Babylon and later refined by Greek astronomers, the zodiac began as a practical way to chart the movements of the heavens. Over time, it took on a more intimate meaning. In astrology, each sign is thought to hold its own temperament and texture, shaping personality, guiding behavior, and quietly influencing the patterns of our lives.

Virgo

August 23 - September 22

France / 1800 -1885

Jean Balme

Dangling around the neck, clutched in devoted hands, or gifted with a prayer for good vibes, Jean Balme’s medal work has been sprinkling a little magic for over 100 years. In a tiny workshop in Saumur, France, he learned at the knee of his father how to turn metals into miniature works of art. His dad Joseph focused on religious medals, depicting protective Saints, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Mother Mary. These little charms were meant to be worn close, to comfort, protect, and remind, and everyone noticed the painstaking detail.

From this family tradition, Jean picked up discipline, a sense of scale, and a knack for symbolism, realizing that sometimes the quietest objects hit the hardest. By the mid 20th century he turned his gaze to the skies, making various collections of silver zodiac pendants for all twelve signs. Each one brings its sign to life in figural form, tiny characters and symbols doing their cosmic thing capturing the essence of the Zodiac. And when Jean finally put down the tools, his vision didn’t vanish, it slid over to the Pichard atelier, becoming Pichard-Balme, where his legacy lives on to this day.

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1970 - 1979

Seventies

A time of awakening, the 1970s set about rebuilding a new world. Social and political upheaval reshaped beliefs, policy, and power. The cost of the Vietnam War, the fight for women’s rights, and escalating tensions in Northern Ireland marked defining moments of the era. Activism, both environmental and political, filtered into culture, bringing with it a rejection of the overly delicate, feminine designs that had dominated previous decades.

Yellow gold returned with confidence, all warmth and attitude, breaking from the cool restraint of platinum and white gold. Bold, tactile, and unapologetically visible, it came to define what is often called the Golden Age of Jewellery.

Scale shifted and design followed. Cocktail rings became oversized and deliberate, set with saturated, jewel-toned gemstones chosen for impact rather than convention. Turquoise, amber, and coral introduced a freer, more instinctive kind of luxury, while textured finishes replaced high polish, giving gold a raw, organic edge.

This was jewellery with presence, designed to be seen. By night, it came alive under disco lights, where gold chains, diamond chokers, and sculptural silver caught every flicker of movement. Nothing was subtle. Everything was intentional.